What a friend we have in Jesus

Author Joseph Scriven: A man who had experienced the friendship of Jesus through a life filled with personal tragedy. When Scriven was a young man in Ireland, his fiancee' accidentally drowned on the eve of their wedding. Soon after this, he set sail for Canada. He seemed destined to live his life alone, with Jesus as his only close friend. In Canada, he determined to be a friend to those in need, and he became known as the "Good Samaritan of Port Hope.'
He never intended to publish this hymn. He wrote the words to accomapany a letter to his mother in Ireland when she became ill. He had no material resources to send her-only a reminder that the most perfect of friends, Jesus himself, was nearby.
Later, when Scriven himself was ill, a visiting friend noticed the hymn scribbled on scratch paper near his bed. "Did you write this?" asked the friend. "Well, not completely," Scriven answered, "The Lord and I did it between us."

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.

O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and havy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there. by JOSEPH SCRIVEN

Theme:
Comfort, Prayer, Jesus as Friend
Scriptures:

Proverbs 18:24
24A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is (A)a friend who sticks closer than a brother.



John 15:13-1613"(A)Greater love has no one than this, that one (B)lay down his life for his friends.

14"You are My (C)friends if (D)you do what I command you.

15"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for (E)all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16"(F)You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and (G)bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that (H)whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.


Phillippians 4:6-7 6(A)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by (B)prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7And (C)the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will (D)guard your hearts and your (E)minds in (F)Christ Jesus.